Page 14 of Made

Kagan swiveled his head so that he could stare. “Are you trying to be funny?”

“Yes.”

Kagan scoffed. “She says she’s no’ worthy of my attentions.”

Of all the things Keir expected to hear, that was perhaps the last he would’ve guessed. “That doesn’t sound like the Esme I know.” He was thinking perhaps he didn’t know the real Esme like he thought he did.

“She thinks she’s human and I’m a posh.”

Keir looked as confused as he felt. “Honestly, I don’t know what that means.”

Kagan pulled his knees up and braced himself against the hill behind him with arms outstretched. “I think she means, you know, one of them.”

“Them?”

Kagan was getting exasperated by his brother’s lack of understanding. He threw one arm out toward the horizon in frustration. “The nobles.”

It took Keir a minute to process what had just been said. Understanding was immediately followed by laughter. “Us? Noble? That’s a new one.” Keir looked at his brother. “She’s got this all wrong. Esme’snothuman. And we’renotnobility.”

“I know.”

“Did you tell her that?” Kagan nodded. “What did she say?”

“The same. She can be kind of…”

“Stubborn?”

“Right. That.”

“Might be just as well. You probably don’t want a mate that stubborn.” When silence stretched on, Keir added, “Do you?”

“’Tis no’ a bad thing to be firm in one’s intention. A stubborn female is true as glue once she makes her mind up about a mate.”

Keir snorted. “True as glue? Who are you? Full stop. I didn’t mean that to rhyme, but seriously, my brother. When did you become an authority on women? A few minutes ago, you were clueless.” Kagan said nothing. Of course. “Seems like you’ve thought this out, though.” Again, Kagan said nothing. “Seems like you’ve thought this out,” Keir repeated, “and she’s what you want.” Kagan nodded. “Want my advice?” Keir took Kagan’s sniff as a yes. “Stop faffing around. Go to Lily’s. Have her make a bouquet so big you can barely get your arms around it. Tell Lily it has to bebreathtaking and add a big red bow around the stems. Hand deliver the flowers to Esme and tell her that, even if she were human… which she’s not, she’s the one for you and you’re not taking no for an answer.”

After a pause that was longer than conversational, Kagan repeated Keir’s pronouncement as a question. “I’m no’ takin’ no for an answer?”

“Of course not. You’re not just some Scottish fisherman after all. For Casban’s sake. You’re a winged lion! One of only three in all creation.”

“Know that.”

“Then act like it.”

It would be a long time, maybe centuries, before Esmerelda really knew Kagan. Keir, on the other hand, knew him well and couldn’t remember his brother having ever backed away from a challenge. As predicted, he could see determination wash over Kagan’s features. The soft lines of uncertainty were replaced with the hard angles of purpose.

Rising to his feet, Kagan said, “Have to go.”

“What about your fishing line?” Keir asked. Ignoring that as if no one had spoken, Kagan just kept walking. Keir took that as an answer. Over his shoulder, he shouted, “Don’t cock it up!”

The mass of tangles lying on the grass was begging for attention. From someone. For a few seconds, Keir thought about righting Kagan’s line as a good deed, but decided instead to head home to the comforts of his sports den and a cookie jar full of bacon. He could spend an hour sorting with little or no appreciation from Kagan. Or he could leave it and letEsme use her extra-human weaving gifts to right it in an instant.

Keir couldn’t help but smile at the idea of Esme believing she was human. It was beyond ridiculous. It was ludicrous.

CHAPTER FIVE Alfas Come First

It wasn’t quite cold enough to snow, so the heavens gave me a musical rain soft enough to be a lullaby. I sat at the desk in my modest study, made cozy by a small fire and two Border collies curled up together. The pitter patter of rain, my dogs’ snoring, and the tedium of the work at hand were lulling me to sleep. The pull of napping became strong enough to be a sleep spell cast by the ”Sandman”, Maxfield Pteron, himself. In fact, I might’ve been dozing because I woke to a knock on my door with my chin trying to rest on my chest.

As I pulled up straight, I saw that the dogs had already sprung to action and raced to see who it might be. No barking meant the person at the door was okay with the pups. Nothing to fear. I peeked between the large slats of the window’s shutters. Still cloudy, but no longer raining. Sure enough. Lochlan was at the front door. My view revealed his upper half, but it was apparent he was standing straight as a sentry. Face forward. Waiting.